Podcast-ic?

Podcasts.  Are we over them?

Podcasts were quite the buzz a few years ago during their coming out period.  Everyone was podcasting, talking about padcasts, dowloading podcasts, listening to them on the way to work or school on an iPod...  When is the last time that you heard about podcasting?  When is the last time that you listened to a podcast?  Or, the last time that someone you knew talked about a podcast?

Podcasts were more popular when people had iPod-ish technologies without video capability.  Now that people have smartphones, when is the last time that they bought iPods?  My freecycle group gives away iPods like people give away cans of kidney beans during food drives.

Podcasts lack what most people want, which is video.  I think a vodcast, or even just a student made video, is much more appropriate in today's media world.  The content is simialr at the base (a script of information).  A video format has a much greater chance to convey information.
A student (non-driver) on a car trip can just as easily watch a video (and get more information, since imagery is added) on a smartphone device (iPhone, iTouch, Droid, etc.).

In a classroom setting, educators must be able to show how what is happening in the classroom happens in real life (authentic learning).  I can think of many more possibilies for video than for audio only.  Sure, students know what the radio is, but how many of them listen to the radio?  They watch TV, movies, and videos instead.

An important thing about podcasts is that they are episodic. (Why, you may ask? Well, would you go to a webpage if it is updated yearly?) A student (or student group) who creates a once a year podcast for one unit or lesson is not true podcasting.  An educator who wants to set up an entire YEAR with podcast tasks on a regular basis needs to plan this far out and make sure that all the supplies/equpiment as well as skills are taught in advance.  It makes more sense to me to teach students video skills to make videos (with the same elements of audio only skills, like intro music and such).

What do you think?